Advice and Comments Please ... Simaudio i3.3 and i7
Krogl309 -- Fri, 10/07/2011 - 22:49
Hello all. I'm a former owner of a Moon i5.3 integrated amp that died. My options for warranty service include a fully decked out i3.3 for free, or a B stock i7 which will cost me an additional $2k Canadian dollars total. Current speakers are B&W 804S. I suspect my original i5.3 blew fuses due to me being hard of hearing, and living in a location that allows me to really turn it up on occasion. It basically blew a fuse about every 6 months or so, and was extremely well ventilated.
My concerns are spending an additional $2k for an integrated amp from 2007.
Any comments, suggestions or advice please. Please note these are my only two options since it seemed silly to spend $ for a 340i was basically has the same sonic qualities with a somewhat "prettier" external look.
Thanks in advance.
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I used to work for a Simaudio dealer, and I have since gone into business for myself. I am not in a position where I am able to sell Sim (yet) but intend to in the future. I will be as unbiased as possible. My installation most similar to yours was with a pair of Revel Performa F52 speakers driven by an i3.3 with the DAC and Phono stage. My experience with the amp are that it outperforms the 5.3, and is closer to the 7 in terms of overall transparency and quality. If it was going into my house, I would go with the i3.3. It has plenty or drive and I would say that the build quality may be even better than the 5.3. The 7 was reviewed so positively all over the world, and it was an amazing piece, although admittedly, I have more experience with the 3.3 than I did the 7 before it was disco'd. If you are thinking of upgrading your speakers in the near future, though, I would say go ahead and run up to the i7 as you'll find it will step up with you (i.e. if you were going to move up to something like an 803D or similar caliber speaker). Both pieces punch well above their weight class. Simaudio had a profound effect on me while I sold it, enough to the point where I want to sell it in my shop where my reputation is at stake every day.
Budget Hi-Fi enthusiast, expensive Hi-Fi enthusiast, medium Hi-Fi enthusiast, Hi-Fi enthusiast..... owns little to no credibility or responsibility whatsoever.